More on the study:
"We know that people who have gone through an illness such as a heart attack or stroke have a higher incidence of dysphoria or anxiety after the event," said Joanne Festa, an assistant professor of clinical neuropsychiatry at Columbia University who has done work on post-stroke depression.
"Having an acute illness such as a stroke in itself is upsetting," she said. "And, of course, with a stroke there is the possibility of cognitive impairment leading to depression. These people should be assessed, and any depression should be treated."
Younger patients in the Australian study were more likely to have post-stroke depression. Depression was more likely if the stroke was severe.
Family members should watch for signs of depression in someone recovering from a stroke, said Glozier, associate principal director of the institute. A physician should then be notified so that treatment might begin, he said.
"There is some evidence that antidepressants work in post-stroke depression, and there are indications that we may be able to prevent depression with psychological intervention, such as cognitive behavioral therapy-style motivational interviewing," he said.
A number of studies have found a high incidence of depression after stroke, sometimes in 70 or more percent of cases, Festa said.